Working memory in children with phonetic deviation and phonological deviation

Abstract

to verify the performance of children with Phonological Deviation and Phonetic Deviation in Working Memory - Phonological loop skills regarding the comparison group. 81 children participated, between five and six years old, of both sexes, attending the first year of primary education in municipal schools. They were divided into three groups, G1 - children with Phonological Deviation; G2 - children with Phonetic Deviation and G3 - children without speech or language disorders (comparative group). The Working Memory - Phonological loop was evaluated by the Repeatition of Words Without Meaning test. Kruskal-Wallis and Dunn's Statistical Tests were used, adopting p <0.05 as significant. The G3 group showed superior performance in the syllabic categories of two, three and four syllables when compared to G1 and G2. When comparing G1 and G2, it was observed a superior performance of G2. In all groups, it was showed a decrease of right answers when increasing the length of words. The deficits in Working Memory - Phonological loop ability were observed in children with both Phonological Deviation and Phonetic Deviation, but children with Phonological Deviation presented significantly lower performance. The results suggest the relation of the Working Memory - Phonological loop with the development of speech and language.